Little Buddha

A 1993 American drama film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, with a screenplay by Rudy Wurlitzer and Mark Peploe. The film is an international co-production of Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, and tells the story of Tibetan Buddhist monks led by Lama Norbu (Ying Ruocheng) searching for the reincarnation of a great Buddhist teacher, Lama Dorje. Their search leads them to Seattle, where they meet Jesse Conrad (Alex Wiesendanger), the son of architect Dean Conrad (Chris Isaak) and teacher Lisa (Bridget Fonda). Lama Norbu convinces Jesse's parents to travel to Bhutan to confirm if their son is the reincarnation of Lama Dorje. Parallel to this, the film narrates the story of Prince Siddhartha (Keanu Reeves), who renounces his luxurious life to seek enlightenment and become the Buddha. In Bhutan, Jesse meets two other candidates for Lama Dorje's reincarnation: Raju (Raju Pene) from India and Gita (Gita Pene) from Nepal. Together, they undergo a series of tests to determine who is the true reincarnation. The film explores themes of spirituality, cultural differences, and the search for life's meaning, intertwining the contemporary story with ancient Buddhist teachings.